Tooth decay is an infectious disease and after the common cold is the second most common disease. 1 in 4 adults have cavities, and more than half of teenagers in the US have had cavities. Oral health is often taken for granted when people are traveling or on spring vacation.

Cavities damage the hard surfaces of your teeth by forming tiny holes or openings. Once these holes form if the cavities are not treated properly, the tooth could eventually die and additional oral health issues could ensue. So don’t let poor oral hygiene ruin your spring fun. Below are a few ways in which you can effectively minimize your risk of developing cavities this spring.

Brush and Floss Often

Most of us know that brushing and flossing your teeth at least twice a day, preferably after every meal, is the best way to prevent tartar, plaque and cavities. Brushing often is important because plaque starts to build up on your teeth about four hours after you brush. Using a dental gel toothpaste that fights plaque can increase the time it takes for bacteria to colonize into plaque, while flossing removes particles between the teeth that brushing misses.

Eat More Tooth-Friendly Foods

Since coffee, tea, dark sodas, and red wine and the top four drinks most commonly associated with teeth stains, you should do your best to avoid them. Increase your intake of foods that are healthy for your teeth like green tea, calcium-rich foods like milk, fiber-rich produce like apples, and olive oil. These will all work together to give you a healthy set of teeth from within and make it easier to ward off cavities especially when combined with habits like regular brushing.

Travel With Your Oral Health In Mind

Taking a spring vacation or traveling a lot? If so, make sure you pack all your dental products. Having a prepackaged dental travel bag is a great way to keep everything together so nothing gets left behind. We suggest packing it with a toothbrush (don’t forget the travel case for it), dental floss, dental gel toothpaste and mouthwash.

Change Your Toothbrush

Dentists recommend for this to be done once every three months to ensure that the bristles are strong enough to remove plaque. You can also try using an electric toothbrush to better reach all areas of your teeth and remove buildup. Don’t forget to change out your travel toothbrush as well.

Schedule Regular Dental Cleanings

This is an easy one…All you have to do is schedule two dentist appointments a year. Just show up and your dental team will do the rest! When your teeth are cleaned professionally and evaluated by an expert, you not only remove hard-to-reach plaque but also get important insights into your oral health. Your dental hygienist and dentist work together to clean your teeth, take x-rays, remove stubborn plaque and even performing cancer screenings.

Prevention is Key

By the time you start to feel pain from a cavity, it is usually a sign that your tooth is in bad shape. Apart from a toothache, you may also experience tooth sensitivity, pain when you bite down or eat something sweet, salty, hot, or cold. You might even have visible holes or stains on your teeth. Therefore, it is important to seek the help of a dentist the moment you feel pain or sensitivity on your teeth.

While it is nearly impossible to stop plaque from forming, you can prevent it from staying on your teeth long enough to cause cavities by following these steps and brushing regularly with a plaque fighting dental gel. 

We recommend using LivFresh, which is supported by thousands of dental professionals and is clinically proven to remove plaque 250% better!